RAMECHHAP: Poverty has been compelling the villagers — ranging from children to superannuated people — of more than 15 VDCs of Ramechhap to opt for arduous jobs in brick kilns in different places, including those in the Kathmandu Valley.

Some villages have been literally deserted as all the local residents have set out for the kilns to make their living following a poor harvest. This year, the yield does not last even for three months due to adverse weather condition. Now, Ward No 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Pakarbas VDC sans people.

The trend is, however, not a new one here.

Majority of population in more than 15 VDCs, including Pakarbas, Bhatauli, Manthali, Ramechhap, Rampur, Chisapani, Rakathum, Bhaluwajor, where people belonging to Dalit and indigenous castes reside, often shut the door of their houses and set off elsewhere to the brick kilns for their living.

Such “temporary migration” has also resulted in a sharp decline in the number of school going children in the areas. According to Narayan Poudel, a resident of Pakarbas-5, those going to the kilns often come back after around five months.

“We prefer to take our kids with us so that they may come handy while working in the kilns,” said Lahari Majhi, 60, of Bhaluwajor -8, revealing that they go there every year to pay back the loans they acquire from the kiln owners a year ago.

“All my family members are going to work there,” said Dilli Bahadur Dhobi, a resident of Pakarbas-5 said, adding that they would manage entire year’s expenditure from the money they get as their pay.

Aaite Majhi of Pakarbas-3 said that the all residents of his village had gone out of the village. According to him, the work fetch them the money that last for the expenditure of the entire year.